Page 2094 - war-and-peace

but when during his journey he found himself in the open
world and saw hundreds of new faces, that feeling was in-
tensified. Throughout his journey he felt like a schoolboy
on holiday. Everyonethe stagecoach driver, the post-house
overseers, the peasants on the roads and in the villageshad a
new significance for him. The presence and remarks of Wil-
larski who continually deplored the ignorance and poverty
of Russia and its backwardness compared with Europe only
heightened Pierre’s pleasure. Where Willarski saw dead-
ness Pierre saw an extraordinary strength and vitalitythe
strength which in that vast space amid the snows main-
tained the life of this original, peculiar, and unique people.
He did not contradict Willarski and even seemed to agree
with himan apparent agreement being the simplest way to
avoid discussions that could lead to nothingand he smiled
joyfully as he listened to him.

2094 War and Peace